why does it matter: It’s the latest in Biden’s wind power plan
Ocean Wind 1 is a major step in President Biden’s goal to generate 30,000 megawatts of offshore wind turbines in coastal waters nationwide by 2030. It will be located 13 nautical miles from Atlantic City.
In addition to the turbines, the approval requires the construction of up to three offshore substations, through which electricity produced by the floating turbines will be fed into the lease area.
Elizabeth Klein, director of BOEM, called the approval “another significant step forward for the offshore wind industry in the United States.”
Workers in New Jersey as well as manufacturers in Baltimore, Maryland, have begun fabricating the turbine components, Liz Burdock, founder and CEO of Business Network for Offshore Wind, which is supporting the project, said in a statement.
“Today’s announcement of Ocean Wind’s Decision Record 1 marks a pivotal inflection point not only for Orsted, but for New Jersey’s leading offshore wind industry as a whole,” said the New Jersey governor. Phil Murphy, Democrat. Mr. Murphy said he hopes New Jersey will become the largest producer of wind power in the country by 2040.
The Biden administration has already approved 62 planned turbine installations for the waters off Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts, known as Vineyard Wind. It also approved the South Fork Wind Project, a 12-turbine project off the coast of Rhode Island that will provide power to Long Island, New York.
But there are obstacles. Landowners and fishing groups have sued to halt the Vineyard Wind project, arguing that management has not adequately considered the consequences a wind farm might have on local fishermen, or on the endangered North American right whale.
In New Jersey, three groups recently sued the state to try to stop the Ocean Wind 1 project, arguing that wind turbines would harm marine life and violate New Jersey coastal management rules. Community activists plan to challenge the approval Wednesday, said Bruce Oven, an attorney representing Save Long Beach Island, Protect Our Coast NJ and Defend Brigantine Beach.
In approving Ocean Wind 1, the Biden administration defended the project against environmental attacks and said the company intends to enforce a “wide range” of measures to protect marine life including sea turtles and Atlantic sturgeon.
what do you know: misleading information about offshore winds.
Since January, 25 whales have been stranded or died along the East Coast, fueling controversy. Opponents claim that seismic studies conducted for offshore wind projects are to blame. Scientists say there is no evidence of a relationship and suspect other factors, including climate change. Marine species are increasingly adapting to warming oceans by moving to new areas, including nearshore areas where they are more vulnerable to ship strikes and become entangled with fishing gear.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration states on its website that “there are no known connections between recent deaths of large whales and ongoing surveys of offshore winds.”
What thenConstruction will start soon.
Federal approval was the final regulatory step for Ocean Wind 1, which can now begin construction. Ørsted said it expects to start operating in late 2024 or early 2025.
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